Thursday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 11/21/2013

State's small businesses plan to expand

Small businesses throughout Florida are bullish on their prospects for 2014, with 87 percent saying they plan to grow in the next 12 months, according to a state survey released this week. Some 30 percent plan to hire new workers, 27 percent expect to make new capital expenditures and 19 percent plan to expand product lines. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

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Where's the beef? Florida cattle industry slated for growth

Development

SkyRise Tower

A prominent Miami developer is getting ready to unveil a proposal for a colossal bayfront observation tower and vertical — not to say vertigo-inducing — amusement center in downtown Miami that he believes will become the city’s analogue to the Eiffel Tower.

The Florida cattle industry is poised to grow to help offset a nationwide shortage of cows due to drought and as land for other uses becomes less in demand, according to Jim Handley, executive vice president of the Florida Cattlemen's Association. More at the News Herald.

Gas prices jump 12 cents a gallon in Florida

Just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday: rising gas prices. Statewide, the average was $3.30 on Wednesday. That compares with $3.20 a week ago and $3.33 a month ago. At this time in 2012, Floridians were paying an average of $3.34. More at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Noted team may end hurricane forecasts

After 30 years, the annual hurricane season forecast issued by climatologists Phil Klotzbach and William Gray may soon be gone with the wind. The Colorado State University team, which claims it is usually accurate in determining a season's intensity, admits it had "a lousy hurricane forecast" this year. But that is not why the outlook is being suspended. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Polling Trends Medical Marijuana

If a medical marijuana initiative makes Florida's ballot next year, it could pass with an astonishing 82 percent of the vote, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday that finds voters also favor outright legalization as well. Support for the proposed constitutional amendment is strong among voters of every political stripe, age and income level, with independents lending the most support.